Deputy PM Suchart Orders Review of Wild Elephant Management Measures After 'Seedoh Hupub' Elephant's Death

Deputy PM Suchart Chomklin has assigned the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to closely monitor and address wild elephant problems following the incident where the elephant 'Seedoh Hupub' died during relocation from Khon Kaen province to the Phu Luang forest food restoration project in Loei province on February 3, 2024. Suchart stated that the Ministry will use this case as an important lesson to review and improve wild elephant management measures, focusing on protecting public safety alongside wildlife welfare. This includes increasing food sources in forest areas, installing GPS tracking devices, adding tracking teams for elephants outside forest zones, and developing sustainable long-term management strategies. The National Parks Department emphasized that the relocation was conducted using scientific principles and international standards, with veterinary experts monitoring the elephant's vital signs throughout the process. The department is currently awaiting laboratory test results to confirm the precise cause of death and has established a committee to investigate and review operational procedures, inviting external experts to participate in lesson learning and developing clear, practical management standards.